The Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) shared its national implementation approach during the virtual meeting of EITI national secretariats held on June 26, 2025. The event, convened by the EITI International Secretariat, brought together representatives from  EITI implementing countries to exchange practices and coordinate support ahead of the 2026 EITI Global Conference.

Representing the Philippines, PH-EITI National Coordinator Mary Ann Rodolfo presented the country’s current work across four strategic areas: subnational transparency, systematic disclosure, beneficial ownership, and policy research. The presentation included an overview of the Secretariat’s structure and operations under the Department of Finance.

One of the focal points of the presentation was PH-EITI’s ongoing pilot on subnational implementation. Carried out under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) commitment “Subnationalizing Extractives Transparency – Ushering Participatory Governance” (SET-UP-GO), the initiative aims to improve data accessibility and citizen engagement at the local level. It involves stakeholder mapping and coordination with existing local bodies such as Provincial Mining Regulatory Boards (PMRBs) and Multipartite Monitoring Teams (MMTs) in mining provinces.

The Philippines also reported on its voluntary beneficial ownership registry, which has been in place since 2019. Extractive companies are encouraged to disclose their beneficial owners, with ongoing awareness-raising efforts intended to normalize such disclosures over time. According to PH-EITI, participation in the registry has grown incrementally each year.

Rodolfo further outlined the country’s digital tools supporting systematic disclosure. These include the Online Reporting in the Extractives (ORE) tool for company submissions, a public contracts portal, and the Extractives Data Generator (EDGE) portal. PH-EITI noted that these platforms have streamlined reporting processes and improved data availability. Rodolfo also shared that there are plans to consolidate these systems into a unified platform for easier public access.

In addition, PH-EITI highlighted its policy research contributions. The Secretariat has produced studies on gender participation in the mining sector, legal barriers to beneficial ownership disclosure, mainstreaming opportunities for EITI data, and the role of local institutions in extractive governance. These studies are used to inform both internal planning and broader policy discussions.

Participants from other countries shared comparable efforts, particularly in the areas of local transparency and data integration. EITI International Secretariat representatives acknowledged the diverse approaches presented and noted the importance of continued knowledge-sharing among implementing countries.

A common theme raised during the meeting was the challenge of resource constraints. The Philippines reported limitations in funding for fieldwork, digital infrastructure upgrades, and local training initiatives. Similar concerns were echoed by other national secretariats, many of which cited budget delays and reliance on donor funding as key barriers to implementation.

The meeting also included open discussions to gather feedback on technical support needs and thematic priorities. Most participants expressed interest in capacity building, regional collaboration, and data analysis support – areas expected to shape future assistance from the EITI International Secretariat.

The outcomes of this meeting will contribute to planning for the 2026 EITI Global Conference, which will be hosted in Manila. The event is expected to bring together stakeholders from governments, civil society, and the private sector to advance transparency and accountability in the extractive industries.